Self-adjusting device



Oct- 29, 1929. vw. H. BOT l1,733,643

SELF ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed March 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 29,1929. w H OT SELF ADJUSTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Filed March 23.1928 Patented oct. ze, 1929 like.

UNITED STA kwinnaar n. iso'r,A or Grimm, ivriivimso'rny Appucation meaMarch as,

My present invention relates to a selffa'djusting device intendedforgeneral use, but especially adaptedy for'bearings, and more particularlyconnecting rod bearings and the The .object ofy the invention is toprovide a self-adjusting device that will not only automaticallyvtake upabearing to compensate for wear, but at the same time will hold thebearing with an approximate predetermined clearance so that there is nobinding action or drag between said bearing and member mounted therein,thus reducing friction and wear between the several parts.

ln the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likeLcharacters indicate like parts throughout the severalfviews.`

leferringto the drawingsi Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in ele,-vation and partly in section showing a `connecting rod having one tionembodied therein and also showinga crank shaft to which the connectingrod is connected;

Fig. 2 is an inner end view of the connecting rod;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the compensating lever removed from theconnectn ing rod;

Fig. 4 is a detailr view with some parts seotio-ned on the'line 4-4 ofFig. 1; f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary some parts sectioned on Fig. 1; n. i n

Figs. 6 and?y are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively,but showing another form of the invention;

Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, but showingstill another form of the invention; and f f Fig. 10 is a detail view.with somefparts sectioned on theline 10-7-10 of Fig. 8.

Referringfirst to the invention asshown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.y thenumeral 11 indicates a crank shaft `and the numeral 12 indicates one ofthek connecting rods of an internal combustion engine and having abearing 13 with a removable kcap 14 in which the crank shaft 11 isjournaled. Said bears the line 5-5 of ingv 18 and cap 14 aredetachab-lyconnected .andaligned notches in the form of the inven- 22frombeing detached detaill view with 192s. `serial .Nessuna i bydiametrically opposite bolts r15 `and16 n passed through aligned boresin Asaid bearing and cap. The bolt 15 is provided with a nut 17held fromturning on said bolt by a cotter pin 18 passed through av bore insaidbolt nut 17. The bolt q 16 provided with a square head 19 whichengages the stop surface 20 onr the connecting rod 12 and holds saidbolt,y from turning in thebeariug and cap 14, but'with freedomforendwise movement. Said bolt` 16 has a square thread-21, to which isapplied a'sleevelike nut 22 which engages the cap 14 as a base ofresistance.` This nut 22' has rigidly secured Vto its outer end adisc-like headk'23 inthe periphery of which are circumferentiallyspacedrelatively small and closely pol rsitioned notches or teeth 24,for ya purpose that will presentlyfappear. Y kEncircling the nut 22 is acoiled spring 25one end kof which yis anchored at 26 to the'cap 14 andthe other end of which is attached at 2,7V to the nut 22. This spring"25is under tension and arrangedto rotate the nut 22 in a direction toadvance the same` on 'the bolt 16. ,A Cotter pin 28 extending throughthe bolt 16 outward of the nut head 23, is spaced therefrom and preventsthe nut 'is highly important to notethat thecap 14 f is spaced from thebearing 13 to permit sai `cap to be adjusted to take up wear between thelbearingand `its cap shaft 11. y f

As previously stated, the spring 25 is under tension tofadv'ance the nut22 on the bolt` 16 and adjust/the cap 14 inrespect' to the `bearing 13to compensate automatically for,r wear between the crank shaft11,-bearing 13 and its cap 14. n

To retard the advancing movement of the nut 22 on the' bolt 16 under theaction of the spring 22 and thereby always keep the bearing 13 and yeach other to leave an approximate predetermined clearance yin respecttothe crank sh 11 of say 1/500 er1/100() of an inch to pre-y vent saidbearing and its capkk from being adjusted too tightly onto the crankshaft 11 and ther by produce undue friction and cause from the bolt 16.rIt

14 andr crank i its cap 14 adjusted lin respect to f k95 aftunnecessarywear, there is provided a lever 29 that normally holds thenut 22 against the action of the spring 25. This lever 29 1s l..-

i shaped and its short arm extends between the .faction of the spring25.

l bolt 16 which again places the spring" bearing' 13 and bolt head 19and is pivoted at 30 to said bearing and fulcrnmed at 31 to said bolthead. The long arm of the lever V29 extends 'downward substantiallyparallel =to the bolt 16 and has secured thereto Va `fiat leaf spring32. One end ot this spring 32 is secured to the inner face ot' the lever29 near the fulcrum 31 and has on its free or lower end a pin 33 whichnormally projects laterally into one oi: the notches 24 and holds thenut 22 from advancing on the bolt 16 under the By reference to igs. 3and 5, it will be noted that the bolt head 19 and lever 29 at thefulcrum 31 have overlapping shoulders that connect saidv lever to thebolt head 1.9 for hinge-like movement and prevent the saine from movingout of'contact or position in respect to the bolt head '19. It will alsobe Vnoted lthat the'lever 29 isnotched at to receive the Vbolt 16 andthereby hold the lever against edgewise shifting movement in respect tothe bolt 16. The lever 29 at its fulcrum 31 is of the same width as thebolt head 19 and thereby affords along' bca- 'ng surface for the lever29 with the bolt head 19. In addition to the overlapping shoulders onthe bolt head 19 and lever 29, said lever is further held in position inrespect to the bolt headj19 by a depending stud on said bolt head whichprojects into a notch 36 in said lever.

The mounting of the short ond of the lever 29 between the bearing 13 andbolt head 19 is such that the long arm of the lever 29 is pressedlaterally toward the bolt 16 Vand places the spring 32 under sultlcienttension' a in Figs. 6 and 7, the crank shaft, connecting to hold its pin33 in one of the notches24 and thereby hold the nut 22 from advancing onthe bolt 16 under the action of the spring .25. vAs wear takes placebetween the bearing 13 and its cap 14 and the crank shaft 11, thedistance between the bearing` 13 and bolt head 19 is increased andthereby releasing the pressure on the lever 29 and permit the compressedspring 32 to swing said lever 29 laterally outward from the bolt 16 andas the pressure on the spring 32 is reduced by this ontward movement,the tension o1" the spring 25 tending to rotate the nut 22 overcomes thespring 32 and moves its pin 33 out of the engaged notch 24 with a camaction, thus temporarily releasing the nut 22 and allowing the springl25 to advance the nut 22 on the bolt 16 to adjust the bearing 13 and its`cap 14 onto the crank shaftv 11 to compensate for .As the nut 22 isadvanced on the bolt 16 by the spring 25 the bolt head 19 will be drawntoward the bearing 13 thereby operating' the lever 29 and swing its longarm toward the 32 under suficient tension to hold its pin 33 in one ofthe engaged notches 24 and thereby stop or intercept further advance ofthe nut 22 on the bolt 16 by the spring 25.

ln view of the relatively short distance between the pivot for the lever29 and its fulcrum 31, and the combined length ot' the spring 32 and itspin 33Y very slight movement ot' the bolt head 19 toward the bearing 13under the advancing movement ot' the nut 22 on said bolt is required tocause the lever 29 to pnt sufficient tension on thespring to stopfurther rotation et' the nut 22 by the spring' 25. It will be noted thatthe long arm ot' the lever 29 overlaps the spring 32 throughont itsentire length and as the lever 29 is moved toward the bolt 16 itgradually contacts with the flat spring 32, thereby shortenthe operativelength of said spring and increasing' its tension. Y pin 33 away fromthe nut 23 is limited by the lever 29. f

rom the above description it is evident that during the adjustment ofthe bearing 13 and its cap 14 on the crank shaft 11 under the advancingmovement of the nut 22 by the spring 25, such movement is automaticallyintercepted under the action of the lever 29 at the proper time to leavethe desired clearance between the bearing' 13 and its cap 14 and crankshaft 11. `When this clearance has been increased by wear to such apoint that the lever 29 no longer holds the spring 32 thebearing 13 andits cap 14 to compensate for wear.

Referring now to the invention as shown rod, bearing and bearing cap areindicated by the numerals 37, 38, 39 and 40, respectively. rlhe bearing'39 and its cap 40 are adjustably connected by a pair ot diametricallyopposite bolts 41 and 42, the former oic which is provided with a nut 43held'lrom turning on the bolt 41 by a Cotter pin 44 which yextendsthrough a bore and aligned notches in the nut 43. The head ot' the bolt42 is provided with a Hatk face that engages a stop surface 45 onv thebearing' 39 and holds said bolt from turning in respectv to saidbearing. Said bolt 42 is provided with a square thread 46 and has acylindrical nut 47 applied thereto. This nut 47 has a spring cap 43, askirt 49 and engages the cap 40 as a base ot resistance. A spring base50 is applied to the bolt 42 outward ot the cap 40 and is detachablysecured thereto by a cotter pin 51.

` Encircling the body of the nut 47 between the spring cap 48 and springbase 50 is a coiled spring 52, one end of which is attached at 53 to thespring cap 48 and the other end 100 radially in respect to the iioihespring 56 y 125 49 will ride over the pin head nut 47 During thisrotation of the G. This spring 52is under tension t0` ad vance the nut47 'on the bolty 42and drawfthe kbearing 39 and its cap 40 toward eachother.-

Normally` the nut 47y is held against the action of the spring 52to'leave a vsubstantially predetermined clearance between the bearing 39and its cap 49 and the crank shaft 87 by a lever 55"having a flat spring5G on the free end of which is a pin 57 that normally engages one ofaplurality of ratchet teeth 49 formed inthe outer annular odge portion ofthe skirt 49. j

One end of the lever 55 isfpivoted on a transverse pin 58 on the underside of the S0 head of the bolt 42 and' is interinediately fulcrumed toa transverse pin 59 on the bearing cap 40. The arm of the lever betweenthe pin 58 on which it is pivoted and the fulcrum 59 is very shortcompared to the other arin of 85 said lever which is curved outwardlyand inwardly over'tlie head 'of the bolt 4l-an projects radially towardthe bolt 42. lt may be here stated that there is sufficient' clearancebetween the bearing 39 and its 'cap 40 and the 9e' bolts 41 and 42 topermit the cap 40 to hingedly move in respect to the bearing89. The faceof the bolt 41 at the pin 58 is 'flattened and the pivoted end of thelever 55 is bifurcated to receive the bolt 4l at its flattened 95 'facewhich holds said lever against edgewise shifting movement longitudinallyon the pin 58. One end of the spring 56 is rigidly secured to the innerface of the lever 55 and the pin 57 is secured to its other end and projects skirt 49. The free end portion of the spring 56 is curved to fornia hook 55 which limits the separating movement of the lever-55 and pin57.

lVhen the cap 49 is adjusted in respect to the bearing 39 to leave theproper clearance between said bearing and its cap and the crank shaft37, the pressure on the lever 55 at its fulcruin 59 is such as to swingthe long arni of said .lever toward the cap 49 and place which is heldby the engagement of its pin 57 with `the skirt 49 under sutlicienttension yto 'hold said skirt from rotating and hence the nut 47 againstthe tension of the spring 52.

39 and its cap 4() and 120 thereby reduces the tension on said spring.

When the tension ofthe spring 55 has been reduced to such an extent thatit can no longer held the nut 47 from being advanced on the bolt 42 bythe spring 52, the ratchet teeth 57 and release the nut 47, therespective end of the cap is moved toward the bearing 39 thereby causingthe fulcruin 59 to put sufficient pressure 150 onithe lever 55 as toswing its long arin in- `verylittle wear ing62 rand holds the boltapplied As wear takes place between the bearing ,l

ward @This inward movementy of the lever again places the spring undersullicient tensionvto cause'the pin 57 by its .engagement `withone ofthe ratchet teeth 49ffto overcome *y bearing 39 and its cap 40 and thecrank shaft 47. Theproportions of the lever 55 onopposite' sideslofthefulcrum 59 is such that between the bearing 39 and its cap-40 and Athefcrank lshaft v57 iis necessary to cause said lever to kreduceithetension on` 'therjspring 56 suiiiciently to allow thespring 521toyovercome thek spring 55 `and advancei,

the lnut 47-1onthe bolt 42 and adjust the cap '80 49 to itake up thewear.k f i Referring now rrto the invention shownin Figs. 8, 9 and l0,the crankshaft, connecting rod, bearing land kbearing cap `areiindicated185 Lby the'numerals 60, 6162and 63, respectively.

Said bearing G2 and itsvcap 63 are adjust- `ably connected by asingle'bolt`64` which extends kkthrough aligned bores yin said bearingand cap andis kprovided witha square head.. wliichfengages a shoulder 66jon the bear-` 64 `from rotating in respect to rsaid bearing.Said'boltl64 is provided with a squarethr'ead67 to which is a nut 68that engages the cap' 63 asa: base of resistance@ j Theynut G8 isprovidedwith a spring cap 59, andfskirt 70 on the outer edge portion ofwhich `is an external annular flange 7l 'hav- -ing on its innerface amultiplicity of circuinferentially. spaced radially vextended notches orserrations 7.1K. Applied to the bolt `64 out-` ward ofthe skirt 70 `isaspring base 7 2'held Vin place bya kCotter pin which extends through,bore in said4 bolt and aligned `1.05 notchesinsai'dbase. i f yEncircling thenut 68,y between the spring y cap and the spring base 72is a coiled spring 7 4, one Aend ofwhicli is anchored at- 5to thespringbase 72 and theother end of which s is attached at 76 to thespring cap 69. yThis spring 74 is arranged and under tension to advancekthe nut68on the bolt 64 "and `draw ythe`i`-espective ends of thebearing 62 and cap 63 towardV eachother.`

` To normally holdthe nut G8 from advancing .on the bolt 64' under theaction of the springj74 ywith an approximately `predetermined clearancebetween the bearing 62 and its cap 63 and kprovided a lever "77 having afiat spring 78 .on the free end ofwhich is a pin'7 9 thatextendsradially into one of` .the notches 7l.

Oneiend rof the ylever 77 is pivoted at.f80 to a' `wide/"lug 81integrally formed with the f bearing 62l diametrically opposite the boltkG4 and is fulcriiined at 8201i alug 83 formedA with thecap 63. f

The lengtliof the short arm vof the lever "7 7 whichk extends betweenthe pivot bearing i 80 and fulcrum 82 is very short compared to theVlong arm of said lever. 1

Obviously, the fulcrum 82 hingedly supports the cap 6.3 on the lever '77from the bearing 8O for swinging'movement toward andvfrom theV cap 63.The spring 7S at its inner end is attached te the outer face of thelever 77. A leaf spring Se, one end of which is attached to the innerface of the lever 77 extends between apair of ribs 85'on the` cap Vandholds the lever'z77 against edgewise shifting movementin respect to saidcap.

A relatively soft metal bar 86 extends substantiallyparallel to thelever Y77 and its inner end is attached to said lever and its other endis spaced from the pin 79 and aliords a stop to limit the movement ofsaid pin from the lever 7 7 By'bending the bar 86, the same may be setditl'erent distances from the lever 77 to vary the movement in whichVthe pin 79 can move from the lever 77 The actions or the device shown inFigs.

V8, 9 and l0 is substantially'` the same as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7with the exception that a movement of vthe lever 77 away from the cap 63is required to place the spring 7 8 under tension while a movement ofthe lever 55 toward the cap l0 is required to place the spring 56 undertension.V

7What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bolt and anut, of means under constant tension for advancing the nut on the boltto compensate automatically for wear of the parts with which the rboltand nut are associated, and a lever controlled by the parts and normallyholding the Vnut 'against the action of its advancing means with anapproximate predetermined clearance between the parts and operableduring excessive movement of one of the parts due to wear to temporarilyrelease thenut.

2. In a device ofthe class described, Athe combination with a bolt and anut, of means under constant tension for advancing the nut on the bolttoy compensate automatically for wear oit the parts with'which the'boltand nut are associated, and a lever having a yielding member normallyholding the nut against the action of its advancing meanswith anapproximate predetermined clearance between the parts, said lever beingoperable during excessive movement of one of the parts due to wear tocause the yielding member to temporarily release thenut.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the lever limits themovement of its yielding member away from the nut. Y

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bolt and anut, of means under constant tension for advancing the nut on the rboltto compensate automatically for .wear of the parts with which the boltand nut are associated, said nut having circumferentially spacednotches, and a lever having a.

yielding member engaging one of said notches `and normally holding theYnut against the WILLIAM H. BOT.

